Mental Health Chatbots
Although Australia has begun to settle into its ‘post COVID-19 era’, levels of psychological distress and life satisfaction amongst Australians are still yet to recover to what they were pre-pandemic. [1] Some have referred to this as the ‘shadow mental health pandemic’. [2]
Unfortunately, Australia is simultaneously in the midst of a ‘mental health crisis’ as the mental healthcare sector struggles to cope with the increased demand for services. [3] A 2023 survey of 1,190 Australian Psychological Society members nationwide found that 77% of respondents reported increased or consistent wait times since February 2022, [4] at which time the average wait time to see a psychologist was between three to six months. [5]
In the fight against the so-called shadow mental health pandemic, artificial intelligence (‘AI’) chatbots have emerged as a potential means of supplementing mental healthcare services to achieve better patient outcomes. [6]
These AI chatbots are conversational agents that use natural language processing (‘NLP’) to simulate human-like conversation with users. [7] This allows them to, amongst other things, deliver mental healthcare interventions such as those based on cognitive behavioural therapy (‘CBT’) principles. [8]
[1] Reflecting on the pandemic — How has Australia’s mental health faired
[2] AI chatbots cannot replace human interactions in the pursuit of more inclusive mental healthcare
[3] Analysing Australia’s mental health crisis
[4] National survey sounds alarm for patients and psychologists after mental health funding cuts
[5] Australians need psychological help more than ever
[6] Ibid.